CV looks strong in winning host tournament

Water polo: Falcons girls best El Diamante to clinch tourney title at Burbank.

July 19, 2010|By Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com

BURBANK — Right from the first sprint in the match — which resulted in a goal — the members of the Crescenta Valley High girls' water polo team brought the power.

Then, they made sure to maintain it against one of the top powerhouses from Central California. No letdowns would occur, perhaps signifying that the Falcons might be rounding into shape and be a serious threat next season.

Crescenta Valley received a match-best seven goals from Kim Fraisse to help spark the Falcons to an 11-6 win against El Diamante in the championship contest of the Falcon Tournament at Burbank High on a balmy Saturday afternoon.

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Crescenta Valley, which captured the Pacific League championship last season, more than held its own against an El Diamante squad that's won three CIF Central Section Division II championships in a row and is coached by Crescenta Valley graduate Jon Conrad.

"Right from the first sprint we were going and we got the goal from Christine Cho," Crescenta Valley Coach Pete Loporchio said referring to Cho's tally 11 seconds into the contest. "But, I'm proud of the way we played defensively.

"We jumped out early and we were able to keep the pressure on them."

The Falcons led throughout the 24-minute match. They received two man-advantage goals and one on a five-meter shot from Fraisse.

Fraisse said the Falcons, who opened the tournament with decisive pool-play victories against Louisville, Temple City and El Segundo, had something to prove Saturday.

"They are a very good team and we wanted to come out strong against them," said Fraisse, the reigning All-Area Girls' Water Polo Player of the Year. "I think that first goal got us going.

"Our defense didn't let them get anything off. This helps us because it will increase everybody's confidence and will prepare us for the season."

Fraisse scored the last four Falcon goals in the first quarter to make it 5-2.

Cho and Fraisse each scored a goal two minutes apart late in the second quarter to raise Crescenta Valley's lead to 7-2 at halftime.

Cho had two third-quarter goals for the Falcons, who received one apiece from Stefanie Loporchio and Karina Alvarez.

"We want to be able to keep growing and developing," said Pete Loporchio, who got five saves from goalkeeper Dakota Davy-Bertram and four from Shelby Gregg. "It's about getting people involved.

"We've been playing at a different level the last couple of weeks. We have the potential to keep that up."

Conrad, who played on the Crescenta Valley boys' squad as a utility player and hole/guard between 1993-95, said the Miners couldn't match or sustain Crescenta Valley's constant attacks.

"They just played better than we did," said Conrad, who got a team-high five goals from Bailey Wickliffe. "I expect CV to go on and win their division and I have a lot of respect for Pete.

"They played good, clean water polo. We lost because they capitalized on our mistakes and we didn't on theirs."